A Healthy Brain – Grease the Wheels

Your brain needs lubrication to be healthy and function properly.It is a known fact that omega-3’s and other whole food factors are associated with cognitive (brain) development and brain health.

My husband was talking to his 95 year old mother (who has mild dementia) on her cell phone.He asked her a question and her response was “I don’t remember.”He went on to tell her, “That is the reason I call you every day and we talk about things to help you remember. Sometimes we have to grease the wheels!”She chuckled as she realized what he meant and said “Yes, I guess we do!”

Most of us reach the full cognitive potential of our brains by the time we are about 20.That is when:

·Our brain is the most vigorous and energetic…

·Mental sharpness is at its greatest…

·Memory has its greatest clarity…

·Neural processing is at its fastest…

We now know that diet strongly influences how well your brain serves you, how sharp your mind stays, and how clear your memory remains. Everyone knows of someone who is a little forgetful or not as sharp as they were at one time. You might even feel that way about yourself; it is a natural thing for our mental capacity to decline a bit with age. Your diet can reflect how fast and to what extent that decline progresses.

Yes, our brains absolutely must have healthy oils to work properly.This is one of my concerns about some of the very low or no fat diets that are popular.Studies have shown the benefits of omega-3 oils from the developing fetus to the oldest of our aging population.A study done on people between the ages of 35 and 54 show that increased DHA (one part of the omega-3 oils) improved nonverbal reasoning and working memory.Another study found that even low doses of omega-3s produced significant improvements in the elderly who suffer from depression.This is an indication that omega-3s provide support for many mood disorders.

Here is a brief summary of the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on brain health:

•High omega-3 diets have been shown to increase mental performance and IQ scores, and help retain better cognitive function over time

•Increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy has been associated with better brain and vision development for the baby.

One of the biggest concerns as we get older is age-related cognitive decline, dementia, and particularly Alzheimer’s.The development of Alzheimer’s has shown free radicals (oxidation) to be a contributing factor. Antioxidants provide protection for the brain from free radical damage.

Research shows that those who have the highest polyphenol content in their diet tend to have the best cognitive capacity throughout life.What are polyphenols?They are nutrients from green tea and super fruits such as pomegranates and acai berry that act as protectors from free radicals.Those with the lowest polyphenol content in their diet are at greatest risk of age-related cognitive decline such as memory loss.

One of the more unique properties of some polyphenols is their ability to cross the blood brain barrier and offer protection to the cells of the brain. This promotes cognitive sharpness today and clarity for tomorrow.

As with any other physical aspect of the body, mental functioning tends to weaken when faced with various forms of stress including everything from simple fatigue to degeneration linked to aging. Herbalists have long known that our capacity for focused concentration, clear thinking, and accurate recall can be supported and even enhanced with an appropriate mix of herbs.

•Ginkgo, Rosemary and Red Sage: antioxidant properties that help increase blood flow to the brain and supports concentration, alertness and healthy memory function.

•Gotu Kola: improves blood flow to the brain and has mild anti-stress properties

•Sweet Basil: promotes mental calm, clarity and steady mood.

•Thyme: an antioxidant that support cerebrovascular health thus reducing the risk of stroke.

•Skullcap flower: relieves anxiety and stress.

Keep your brain fed properly and lubricated with healthy oils.This will give you the assurance that as you age; you will be all there when you get there!

Think clearly for a life time,

Pat Moon

Pat is a grandmother who started as an Independent GNLD Distributor in 1985 because of family health concerns. After experiencing positive results for several family members, she chose to share the whole food nutritional supplements and natural vitamins with other people. Her confidence in GNLD'S Whole Food Nutritional Supplements and Natural Vitamins has continued to grow because they work. Her goal is to help others have the BEST REAL HEALTH possible and slow the aging process.

HI Pat, I commented already once. This time I read in it a comepletely different way. I am taking essential oils now and rosemary is proven to work really, realy well for our brain! Thank you so much!!

Hi Olga, Thanks for sharing your comment. The omega-3 oils displace the bad fats in the brain so is very essential for a healthy brain. Obviously there are also other healthy oils that are also beneficial for our brain health.

I love fish, so it's lucky for me that I am getting my omega-3 dosage! But indeed, the thing that kills me… the trip to the fishmonger has to be on that day, it's not something I can whip up easily from the freezer!

Diane, good for you. Most people do not make the effort or can’t make the effort to eat fish as often as they should. Also, it is important to eat healthy, disease-free, and toxic free fish. We take the best possible, highest quality fish oil supplement daily in order to assure we are receiving a healthy amount of fish daily. Actually it saved my husband’s life! Thanks for sharing your comment.

Nice post Pat, we really need to be aware of natural ways of staying healthy and sharp. My mother turned 79 recently and I can only hope to be in as good shape as she is mentally, physically and spiritually. Thanks. Donovan

Great information about the importance of antioxidants, Omega fatty acids and how they fight the oxidative stress our bodies undergo daily. Throughout my daughter's four pregnancies she supplemented over and above daily vitamins adding Omega 3 and 6. All four of her children have surpassed their cousins in eye hand coordination, reasoning ability and they are whizzing through their home-school lessons with ease. Highly recommended and I for one am thankful to other grandmas like you, Pat who share my passion for turning back the clock on aging and disease.

Hi Carla,
Thanks for sharing about your daughter’s success with supplements during her 4 pregnancies. It would be so wonderful if all mothers and mothers to be could be informed as to that need. The older I am in years, the more passion I have for helping people take care of their health and improve their health with proper nutrition. Us grandmas must stick together!

Interesting information, Pat! The entire generation above me is gone so, with my siblings, I am on the leading edge. So I'll keep up the Omega 3s, açaí, etc. As long as I can synthesize the entire global meltdown into a 5-minute audio … I guess I'm still okay! Let me know if you see me slipping 😉

Hi Sharon,
I am right with you of being on the leading edge of our generation although my mother is still with us. She will be 91 years young next Tuesday and is still quite active physically and mentally. She still takes her supplements faithfully and is on zero prescription drugs. Let me know when you get the entire global meltdown into a 5-minute audio. I plan to be alert enough to keep checking up on you! 😉

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